The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-04-29
AN EARTHLY PARADISE.
The Beautiful Bayou Teche, Where
Joe jefferson has His Home.

Among the most beautiful spots on this
continent is the region around the Bayou
Teche, in Louisiana. An official report of
the Department of Agriculture has declared
that the scenery all along on both banks of
the Teche is the most charming and mag
nifcent in any part of the United States.
The forest trees on both banks, the magno-
liza, ash, live-oak, red, white and other oaks
black-walnut, gum, pecan, hickory, syca-
more, and other trees are all tall, graceful
and Of generous growth. On thousands of
acres the grasssgrows on a smooth surface
under the noble branches Of the magnificent
trees. These lands are far more beautiful
lucky; the trees have a more luxuriant
growth, the foliage is richer and hangs out
in the broad branches in more generous
abundance, and the soil is rich almost be-
yond anything in the great West In
this region Mr.: Joseph Jefferson, the ia
nous actor of Rip Van Wrinkle, has made
his winter home. Near the Gulf of Mexico,
south and southwest of New Iberia, writes a
correspondent of the Springfield Republican,
lies a row of so-called islands, or more prop
erly, hills rising out of the sea-marsh-a
Stralght line drawn northwest from the first,
Belle isle, would pass through them all,
Cote Blanche. the second, is 1870 feet above
tne Gull with the finest of sea bathing and
many resources that might be developed in
making 1t a first rate summer resort. Then
come Grand Coteau and Petite Anse, the
latter containing the salt mine of which |
shall presently speak. The last and most
beautiful is Orange island, formerly called
Mlller's island, and now sometimes Jeffer-
sons island. Mr.. Jefferson bought it some
years ago and has 5000 acres of land. His mag
nificent herds of Holstein and other blooded
STOCK rove the sea marshes a treat to the
eyes. they are over 5000 in number On
the north Of his place is Lake Peigneur, in
the shape OF a new moon. The island rises
20 feet above the lake and "a above the Gulf,
which Is 10 miles away. There is an almost
constant sea breeze. He has eight orange
groves, one Of which is believed to be the
Oldest in the country, and has raised i'm
mense crops OF oranges in years more favor
able than the present. Pecan, cherry, fig,
peach, ounce, mespilus mandarin, lemon
and blue plum trees may be found upon the
pace In numbers ranging from a thousand
down. 1t is said that the finest magnolias
ana I'VE oaks in the world grow on Orange
Island, the inagnolias reaching enormous
size A noble avenue between such giants
leads down to the lake. His home is ex-
ceedlngly beautiful. Hitler he comes every
year about the LIST Of January to spend four
months nc in rest before starting out again.
His idea of rest is painting, which he has
taken up with great energy An item has
been going the rounds of the press to the eff
feet that he has been encouraged by his
friends to put the price of $4,000 upon his
last picture, bayou scene. Good judges
count Mr.. Jefferson an artist in this new line
quite as much as in his old and more gener-
any recognized one. He was expected at
nome at the usual time this year. An ex-
i!raordlnary charm hangs about each of these
climate, its beautiful views Seward and
across prairies, its depth of isolation from
tne ordinary lines Of travel, its shelter be-
yond the vast swamps thar lie between the
mississippi and the Teche. And on at least
Two OF the islands may be found those who
are in themselves the fitting keepers of pos
sessions so rare.